Remand for woman who bashed boys

A Mount Maunganui woman repeatedly whacked two boys in her care with a belt or spatula, and kicked them for not doing their chores or for being late home.

Dianne Daile Tamehana, 25, pleaded guilty to four representative counts of assault with a weapon when she was arraigned for trial in the Tauranga District Court yesterday.

The offences committed between June 21, 2007 and March 31, 2012 relate to repeated assaults against the son of Tamehana's partner.

The son was aged seven when she moved in with his father in 2006.

The other boy was aged about 11 when Tamehana and her partner became his caregiver in 2008.

The summary of facts revealed that during one of the assaults this year, after the second victim misplaced his electronic game, he received three to four whacks to his bottom or legs with a belt.

The boy ran away because he was tired of being hit.

The first victim was also whacked on his bottom and leg for not being able to find the missing game.

When interviewed on April 24, Tamehana admitted to police that she hit both victims about 20 times with a belt, and also kicked them in the bottom at least 20 times for not doing their chores or for being late home.

Tamehana, who has not previously appeared before the courts, was further remanded on bail by Judge Christopher Harding pending sentencing on November 5.